SAMWU strike forces Kouga Municipality to close Jeffreys Bay offices

Mar 6, 2017

The Kouga Local Municipality on Monday morning advised local residents and businesses that it has closed its Jeffreys Bay offices due to a violent strike by its staff, who affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU).

"The Municipal offices have been closed to ensure the safety of staff as well as the public," the municipality said.

"One of the Municipal worker unions, SAMWU has called on its members to strike today."

The municipality said that the workers' grievance revolves around a number of Expanded Public Work Program (EPWP) workers, whose temporary contracts ended on 28 February and were not renewed.

"As a Municipality we believe we acted lawfully in ending the contracts and the workers as well as Council were timeously informed on the decision,” said Kouga Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Elza Van Lingen.

"Unfortunately some of the strikers broke the two access control gates at the Municipality; they broke windows, and also damaged cars.

The Municipality will be laying charges in this regard,” added Van Lingen.

The hunt for a gang that stormed a police station in Ngcobo in the early hours of Wednesday morning and killed five police officers as well as an off-duty soldier continued on Thursday with authorities calling on the public for leads that can help in their investigations...